Print Structure, Printing Method and Reading Method for Medium Surface with Print-Formed Dot Pattern

Abstract

With the aim of realizing an easy and inexpensive method of realizing a “stealth” dot pattern, whose presence on a medium surface is not visually recognizable, merely through minor improvements in the existing printing technology, the present invention provides dots which form a dot pattern by printing these dots using an ink of any color reactive in the infrared or ultraviolet wavelength range on a medium surface on which a dot pattern is to be formed, for use with a dot pattern reading system that irradiates infrared or ultraviolet light on a medium surface having a dot pattern provided thereon, recognizes the dot pattern by reading the reflections of the light with an optical reading means, converts the dot pattern into the corresponding data, and outputs the text, voice, images and so forth contained in the data.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an art effective in applying to a dot pattern reading system that reads a dot pattern printed on a medium surface and outputs the data corresponding to the dot pattern. BACKGROUND THE ART [0002] There are known arts for reading a dot pattern printed on the surface of a medium, such as paper, and outputting the data corresponding to such dot pattern. [0003] Several researchers, including the present inventor, have focused on the dot pattern layout theory and proposed different techniques for effective layout of dot patterns. [0004] Along with these efforts, technology for printing dot patterns has become increasingly sophisticated, and this has made it possible today to arrange a dot pattern with much higher densities on a paper surface. [0005] Patent literatures that propose dot pattern reading systems reflecting these advancements include Japanese Patent Domestic Laid-open Publication No. 2003-528387 applied by Anoto AB...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0061] Every dot pattern, according to the present invention, is not visually recognizable, and the risk of being analyzed due to the ease of visual recognition can be prevented and thus provides an effect of enhanced security. This feature of the present invention also provides an effect that the aesthetic quality of a medium surface can be maintained. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] Hereinafter, referring to accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

Problems solved by technology

If visually recognizable, a dot pattern faces the problem of threatened confidentiality due to the ease of analysis of the information contained therein.

Also associated with a dot pattern visibly printed on a medium surface is the problem of compromised aesthetic quality of the medium surface.

These, however, are not realistic solutions due to requirements for prohibitively high printing costs and increased complexity of reading units.

These methods that use special optical filters are particularly unsuitable for cellular phone terminals with the photograph and imaging function, which have become increasingly widely used in recent years.

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